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Messages - HWP

Thanks for the suggestions. I purchased Tubas racks and Ortlieb panniers from the Touring Store. As noted, Wayne and Cormac were very helpful in making selection and provided useful advice on mounting....very pleased with their service and the quality of the products. Just got back from a 3 day shake down trip...all went well. Looking forward to 2-3 week tour of WI and MI...leaving Tuesday.

Looking for recommendations/confirmation on racks and panniers for my new Gunnar Grand Tour bike. I plan to do a few unsupported and supported tours per year of 1-2 week duration, perhaps longer, and may do a TA in 2014.

Considering Tubus Tara Low Rider front and Cargo Evo rear racks with Orlieb Front Roller (25L) or Sport Packer (30L), Bike-Packer or Roller (50) and Medium (7L) handle bar bag. I am thinking Front Roller as 82 L total capacity seems like plenty (too much?...don't want to be tempted to over pack), but I have no experience packing for tours longer than a week. I would use just the front or rear for lighter touring.

The Packer's inner compartments may be a convenience. The Roller doesn't need to be completely filled, which may prevent over packing (less weight)...and probably overs the best protection against the elements. Is it just a matter of preference?

Both panniers are offered as Classic (nylon fabric / Q1 mounting) or Plus (Cordura fabric / Q2 mounting). On websites the Cordura fabric looks nicer to me, not as shiny as nylon? Again just a matter of personal preference?

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I am leaning towards 24/36/46 with 11-34 for gearing.

I did want STI shifters as I like them on my Madone, however I am finding that to be problematic as the new 10sp Dyna-Sys isn't compatible with STI....although the Co Motion Americano offers this as an option!! I have seen that the older 9sp RD works...so that could be an option.

Another alternative could be SRAM as their shifters work their MB RD, however they do not offer a triple. One suggestion has been to use bar end, downtube or MB shifters for the FD as SRAM does not support triple cranks...seems a little funky but could work!

I am coming to the conclusion that it may not be worth the hassle and that bar end shifters may be best for reliability/simplicity.

I just purchased a Gunnar Grand Tour frame as a retirement gift to myself and am now struggling to select components, particularly gearing. I live in Wisconsin and will be touring the Midwest (trip planned to Traverse City/Mackinac) and am considering a TA in the future, so I want to make sure I have adequate low end for the mountains. I could have used gearing lower than my Madone (50/39/30:12-27) while riding (unloaded) the hills around the Mississippi in western WI!

I have been looking at other tour bike set-ups to get an idea on gear selection (Co Motion, Surly, Novara). I thinking a triple 48/36/26 or 48/36/24 with an 11-34 cassette. Front derailleur selection seems to be problematic (according to specs) with a max difference of 22 or 24T. The Co Motion Americano offers a FSA Afterburner 48-36-26 crank with a Shimano XT 11-34 10-speed cassette and an option for Shimano 6700 Ultegra STI shifters, which I really like on my road bike. Any concerns with this setup?

Wheels are my next big challenge...thinking 700X28 tires as I plan to ride mostly roads, with occasional gravel trail/road. Need to be rugged to support loaded touring....36, 44 or 48 spoke count?